Detroit 3 win Ben Stein's money support
Ben Stein is a pretty smart guy, and impressing him usually involves showing him up on Comedy Central or showing up to your high school economics class on time. Detroit's automakers may have done neither, but Stein's in their corner just the same.In the actor/commentator's opinion, the Big 3 are part of the fabric of America, employing hard-working Americans and building cars which are, in his view, second to none. He even credits their products which "have saved [his] life many times on the freeway." Bailing out Detroit is an imperative for Stein, making the case on emotional as well as logical grounds. But the steadfast Republican who cut his teeth working in the Nixon and Ford administrations can't understand how the government of the United States can find the money to bail out a mismanaged Wall Street and finance foreign intervention – the kind he supported when it was Nixon's call – while dragging its feet on helping the Big Three "slim down, shape up, and keep making great cars and trucks". Follow the link to read his take.
[Source: Yahoo! Finance]
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 3)
Frylock350 9:37AM (1/05/2009)
Driven many a rental compact. I'll take a Cobalt over a Civic and day of the week. The Civic's interior, while nice materials is strange and the car feels like a Prius mated with a go-kart. That and the steering wheel feels like it came from an arcade booth. The ride is harsh and unforgiving, the engine is gutless unless you get your foot into it. Cobalt's interior is cheap feeling. That the one and only complaint I'd have about the car. The powertrain however is outstanding. It feel much stronger than the Honda unit. The ride is much more compliant, the seats more comfortable, and the dash doesn't look like a Prius. In every category other than interior Cobalt is better than Civic and more enjoyable to drive. However if I had to select a compact, I'd go with the Focus, just for Sync. If you've never used it, you need to, its sweet.
Gnagy 7:37PM (1/04/2009)
Ben Stein is an idiot.
did any of you ever see expelled? Or see him debate finances with Peter Schiff.
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tom t. 8:44PM (1/04/2009)
After Ferris Bueller, I thought Ben Stein was cool. But his position on right to choose is absolutely intractable, and, since the abovementioned movie, his science is downright batty.
As for his economics, he admits he abandons reason -- the big 3 should be saved 'cause they are 'part of the fabric of America', whatever that is. As others have said, at what industry do the bail-outs end?
I personally long for someone to apply the science of economics to policy, and get the government back to protecting the country, ensuring a level playing field, and getting the heck out of the way.
But then again, I, too, think science is more spot on than wishing in a magical all-knowing being who brings presents once a year. Ooops. Please, Santa, don't forget my Roots supercharger again this year!
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Avinash machado 2:16AM (1/05/2009)
Well the domestics are making good cars nowadays. Malibu,G8,CTS,SRX, Enclave,Fusion,Flex,Challenger etc.
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A.R. 3:48AM (1/05/2009)
Yeah Ben Stein has to be pretty stupid to have been one of Nixon's speechwriters, have his own successful shows on TV, act in popular movies, and be a prolific writer.
I'm sure everyone on autoblog has contributed to society much more than him.
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010111 8:39AM (1/05/2009)
being well known / make speeches / in the mass media / and writing a book doesn't automatically make you better than that those that haven't. or somehow a 'better' person. or have more worth to society at large.
there was this fellow in germany that did all those things... and his contributions to society were somewhat less than desirable.
being the Ben Stein fanboy that you are... i bet you put blame for that on Darwin though. *just like Ben Stein does*. classy.
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=six-things-ben-stein-doesnt-want-you-to-know
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voodoo 11:56PM (1/05/2009)
Godwin's Law.
You lose.